Hints from heloise

To eliminate a foul odor from a large trunk in which she keeps her quilts, blankets and afghans, Peggy writes in her e-mail: Take several small margarine tubs and punch holes in the lids with a paper punch. Fill the tubs with washing soda, put the lids on and place the tubs in the trunk. I even left the quilts in the trunk and placed the tubs among them, too. After several weeks, the odor was gone.

Washing soda is a great odor-absorber. It is sodium carbonate, while baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is caustic/alkaline and can be used as a household cleaner and detergent booster. When using washing soda, follow the directions on the box for washing or cleaning instructions. Baking soda is not caustic, is ingestible and is a household cleaner and deodorizer. — Heloise